It was the coolest and greyest Canada Day in recent memory but that sure didn’t keep between 500 and 600 enthusiastic Revelstokians from crowding into the downtown core to enjoy a full ranges of festive activities.
There was a great parade, the traditional birthday cake and flag raising and the inspiring sound of local songstress Sharon Shook, as well as a terrific rib cook-off competition, lots of music, street hockey at the Last Drop, plenty of kids activities and much, much more.
Here are a few — okay, a lot of — photos from the day’s events. Can you spot yourselves or your friends and family? Have a look!
Unusually grey, cool weather failed to Revelstokians’ enthusiasm for the annual Canada Day parade, which was led by the Kootenay Rangers’ Army Cadets on Friday morning. David F. Rooney photoChauffeured by Peter Bernacki, Mayor David Raven waves to the crowd along First Street. David F. Rooney photoCitizen of the Year Alan McKinnon had a smile for everyone along the parade route. David F. Rooney photoAndrea Threatful ably represented the BC Ambassador Program in the parade. And, yes, those are the Aquaducks right behind her. David F. Rooney photoThe wee set had price of place in the Selkirk Saddle Club’s wagon. David F. Rooney photoThe Revelstoke Multicultural Society used different national flags to demonstrate the strength of our culture’s roots. David F. Rooney photoIt was all little too much for young Taiki Fujimura, who was carried along the parade route by his daddy, Tomo. David F. Rooney photoOgopogo paid a visit to Revelstoke in the form of a Spirit of the Lake float from Kelowna. David F. Rooney photoIt wasn’t exactly the kind of weather that one would expect for Canada Day, but that didn’t stop Ministry of Forests firefighters from spraying out the wet stuff for the crowd. David F. Rooney photoScott Burke of the Revelstoke Shrine Club led the way for a dazzling performance by the Vernon Shrine Club. David F. Rooney photoOh, those Vernon Shriners in their teeny, tiny cars! David F. Rooney photoLong-time Revelstoke Shriner Bill Gill was chauffeured by one of the Vernon Shrine members. David F. Rooney photoHere’s something you don’t see every year — members of the Gideons (yeah, they’re the folks who leave Bibles in hotel rooms across North America) handing out bibles to all and sundry. David F. Rooney photoKids try to snag airborne candies launched by members of the ATV Club. David F. Rooney photoMembers of the Grizzlies hand out candies along the route. David F. Rooney photoThe Grizzlies Society’s Cheryl Fry and the team’s new head coach, Randy Quackenbush, wave to the fans in the crowd. David F. Rooney photoAren’t these guys beautiful? David F. Rooney photoMembers of the Lake Revelstoke Dragon Boat Society chant to the beat drummed out by Ginger Shoji. David F. Rooney photoGimme Five! The BC Parks mascot moose snags a last greeting from a small fan. David F. Rooney photoGlacier National Park is 125 years old this year and that’s certainly the theme of the Parks Canada float this year. David F. Rooney photoBeer, horses, decorative trees… hmm… that could only be the Last Drop! David F. Rooney photoA visitor grabs a photo of one of the Fire Rescue Service vehicles in the parade. David F. Rooney photoCarolyn Murray of Team Gloria serves up some pop corn at the food concession where they spent hours roasting dogs, grilling burgers and selling all kinds of other crowd pleasers. David F. Rooney photoThe crown of between 500 and 600 people who filled the downtown for the parade were in a pretty happy mood all day. David F. Rooney photoDavid Johnson, president of the Revelstoke Heritage Railway Society, captures an image of this year’s Canada Day Birthday Cake, which this year was created with a Last Spike theme by the Chalet Bakery. David F. Rooney photoHere’s a another view of the crowd that swirled through the downtown. David F. Rooney photoMonica Fahrig of Salmon Arm takes a photo of her daughter Louise as she poses with RCMP Constables Erica Hancock and Gary McLaughlin. David F. Rooney photoMC Steve Bender confers with Mayor David Raven and Canada Day organizer Meghan MacIsaac before the start of the formal part of the festivities. David F. Rooney photoMC Steve Bender goes over the formalities with singer Sharon Shook and Miss BC Ambassador Andrea Threatful. David F. Rooney photoAndrea Threatful waves to the crowd as she is introduced by MC Steve Bender. David F. Rooney photoSharon Shook belts out the national anthem, O Canada, in English and en Francais. David F. Rooney photoThis toddler seems to take an unusually formal attitude towards the raising of the flag by local Army Cadets. David F. Rooney photoAbdrea Threatful served up lots of cake after the flag raising. David F. Rooney photoKen Jones sweeps through the crowd on his stilts. David F. Rooney photoWe’re not sure who this is on stilts but she was obviously a crowd pleaser. David F. Rooney photoThere were all kinds of things for young kids to do like trying navigate a ball through this tilt-a-maze. David F. Rooney photoAnd of course there were places for kids to bounce themselves crazy, too. David F. Rooney photoMore artistic kids had a venue to indulge their creative spirits — coloured chalk and the pavement. David F. Rooney photoA lot of local shops were open all day and many did a terrific business. At the North Columbia Artists’ Coop sho, Art First, Ingrid Cunningham of Calgary took great delight in this amazing Dave Bennewith photo, Sodden Sorcerer. David F. Rooney photoKen Jones talks with passersby as others line up for a feed at the Team Gloria concession. David F. Rooney photoPart of the afternoon was given over to musical presentations by talented local kids like the boys of Caldera. David F. Rooney photoBalloon bending! David F. Rooney photoYoung singer Keeley Jurgen belts out a song for an appreciate crowd. The other young performers were Haily Christie Hoyle and Emily Suchy. David F. Rooney photoThe Carter family give an inspiring performance at the bandstand in Grizzly Plaza. David F. Rooney photoFor the most part, musical performers downtown on Canada Day enjoyed good crowds. David F. Rooney photoIf you wanted something a little more — ah — energetic, Powder Springs and the Last Drop sponsored street hockey games that drew lots of athletically mined adults and kids and enthusiastic onlookers. David F. Rooney photoWhile it was certainly not an official event, Dr. Theresa Camozzi’s open house at her new naturopathic clinic drew a steady stream of well-wishers such as Gary Sulz. David F. Rooney photoAh! Ribs! There was a terrific rib cook-off competition that involved chefs from four local establishments — the Last Drop (shown here), the Big Eddy Pub, the Chalet Bakery and the Great White North. David F. Rooney photoGreat White North staff served up some truly succulent and tasty ribs. David F. Rooney photoChamber of Commerce Executive Director John Devitt and Director Poppy Reiner sold LOTS of cards for the rib cook-off. John said they sold 130 cards — 30 over their stated limit of 100. The Great White North came in first place for their gorgeous wings, followed by the Big Eddy Pub, the Last Drop and the Chalet Bakery. John says this event will definitely be reprised. David F. Rooney photoThe smell of those barbecuing ribs beckoned a hungry crowd. David F. Rooney photoThe bears at the East Gateway of Grizzly Plaza were irresistible to young Revelstokians looking for a bird’s-eye view. David F. Rooney photo“Oooh! Will we be in the newspaper?” they asked. Why sure! David F. Rooney photoLocal guitar master Shanon Sternloff joined Diana Braithwaite and her husband Chris Whitely for an excellent blues performance Friday evening. David F. Rooney photoMembers of the North Columbia Environmental Society congregated at the Community Garden for a pot luck supper after the day’s events. David F. Rooney photoMeanwhile, a large crowd of people decided to spend the cool Canada Day evening watching Transformers 3 in 3D at the Roxy. David F. Rooney photoAnd, finally, the Fourth Street Jazz Project rolled out their sound for an appreciate audience in the evening. David F. Rooney photo
